IN FACT SHE HERSELF ONCE BLAMED ME.

orn and raised in Colophon (modern day Turkey) to a wealthy aristocrat family that had the misfortune of only producing daughters, until they finally - after seven attempts - managed to have a male heir, her younger brother, Karos.

In return for their turn of luck, Gongyla's father had promised to give his oldest daughter, that was Gongyla, to the cult of Apollo to serve as a priestess, so when her brother was an infant, he sent the 14-year-old Gongyla alone to Mytilene to study under Sappho, so that she might please the Gods more upon return.

Her stay in Lesbos was planned to extend for six years, meaning she would come home at age 20 and then enter into priesthood, but in the meantime, Sappho and her family were exiled to Sicily and Gongyla was left with no teacher. Her father was planning to call her back to Colophon early, but as time went on Gongyla had lost any interest in going back, instead seeking out Sappho's old rivalling teacher, Gorgo, to continue her training with her.

The two developed a close bond and fell in love, Gorgo helping her seek approval from her father that she stay in Mytilene and become Gorgo's yokemate, her companion or spouse. Because Gorgo was of a good family with connections and wealth, he eventually agreed and let Gongyla remain in Lesbos, never to come home and never to serve Apollo or any mortal man.